Authorizing mobile gaming

ABSTRACT

A handheld or mobile computer device is used for gaming (gambling) in accordance with rules or laws of a jurisdiction. The device includes software which determines if a player of the game, using the mobile device, is within a geographic area as required. The software uses information provided by a GPS, triangulation using the transmitter-receiver of the device and a plurality of cell towers, or information provided by one or more WiFi connections, to determine a current geographic location. To determine an age of the player, the software uses the device camera to capture an image of an ID of the gaming player, and then interprets the image captured to obtain age information, for example from a bar code on the ID. Funding and game play information is communicated to a server associated with the gaming host. After game play, the player is notified whether he won or lost.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system and method for authorizing eligibility for engaging in electronic gaming, and in particular, authorization based upon a determination of a player's location and age.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An ability to legally engage in gaming or wagering based upon, for example, a state lottery, a sporting event, or a casino style game, may be predicated upon the participant being physically present within a defined geographical boundary. When using a mobile device, for example a smartphone or tablet, it may be technically possible for a participant to engage in gaming anywhere in the world, however laws of a jurisdiction may require the participant's presence, for example the rules or laws of a local, county, state, federal, territorial, principality, or national region. Accordingly, a GPS device, or other electronic location modality, may be used to determine whether or not a prospective participant is within the geographic boundary. This presence may be determined by data provided by the user's device, sent to a server associated with the gaming venue.

A profile may be created within which an age of the participant is stored. This information may be communicated between the mobile device and the server to authenticate the user.

The art described in this section is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention, unless specifically designated as such. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 CFR §1.56(a) exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the disclosure, a computer gaming system, comprises a computer connected to software stored on non-transitory media, the software configured to—use at least one of a GPS and transmitter-receiver of the computing device to determine that the computer is within a predetermined geographic boundary when a game is played using the gaming system; capture an image of an ID of the gaming player, so that the software of the computer, or software of a computer to which the computer is connected, may interpret the image captured to obtain age information; allocate funds to be used in play of the game; present a game to a gaming player of the system; notify the player if the game has been won or lost; and notify the player of a disposition of allocated funds based upon whether the game has been won or lost.

In various embodiments thereof, the software is further configured to analyze a bar code within the captured image to determine an age associated with the ID; present a selection of games from which a player using the gaming system may select; communicate with at least one computer server connectable to the computer, for example a mobile computing device, to share information pertaining to the game played and the game player; enable the selection by the game player of one or more additional potential players who may be invited to participate in play of the game; and communicate with social media software using an API in order to provide a list of the one or more additional potential players.

In other embodiments thereof, the software is further configured to receive information pertaining to values associated with a gaming game that has been played in the real world, or in a virtual world using a computer, and use the received information in play of a game of the gaming system. Further, play of a game of the gaming system may include using the values as an entry in play of a game of the gaming system.

In yet further embodiments thereof, the software is further configured to obscure an area of a display of the computer so that values may not be seen within the area; reveal values within the obscured area when a player performs a gesture corresponding to wiping the screen within the obscured area, wherein values within the wiped area become visible, or are made visible. In an embodiment thereof, the revealed values are used in a subsequent game of the gaming system.

In another embodiment thereof, the software is further configured to ask a gaming player one or more questions, the answers to which may be correlated by the software, or by software executing on at least one computer server connectable to communicate with the mobile device, with published information, to validate that the gaming player has reached a predetermined age.

In additional embodiments thereof, the software is further configured to use values obtained in a first game of the gaming system in a second game of the gaming system, the values operative to reveal a portion of the second game; and use values obtained in a first game of the gaming system in a second game of the gaming system, the values corresponding to discrete elements displayed within the second game, the discrete elements used to determine a win or loss of the second game.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a computer gaming system, comprises a handholdable device including a transmitter and receiver, a GPS, a display, and a computer processor; software stored on non-transitory media, the software configured to execute upon the computer processor, and to—use at least one of the GPS and transmitter-receiver to determine that the handholdable device is within a predetermined geographic area when a game is played using the device; determine an age of a player of the gaming system by performing at least one of methods (a) and (b), where method (a) includes capturing an image of an ID of the gaming player, so that the software of the mobile device, or software of a computer to which the computer is connected, may interpret the image captured to obtain age information, and method (b) includes asking a gaming player one or more questions, the answers to which are correlated by the software, or by software executing on at least one computer server connectable to communicate with the computer, with published information, to validate that the gaming player has reached a predetermined age; allocate funds to be used in play of the game; present a game to a gaming player of the system; and notify the player if the game has been won or lost.

In embodiments, thereof, the software is further configured to, if determining an age of a player uses method (a), analyzing a bar code within the captured image to determine an age associated with the ID; communicate with social media software using an API in order to provide a list of the one or more additional potential players from which one or more additional players may be invited to participate in play of the game.

In another embodiment thereof, the software is further configured to obscure an area of a display of the computer so that values may not be seen within the area; reveal values within the obscured area when a player performs a gesture corresponding to wiping the screen within the obscured area, wherein values within the wiped area become visible, or are made visible.

In a further embodiment of the disclosure, a computer gaming system, comprises a handholdable or wearable device including a transmitter and receiver, a GPS, a display, and a computer processor; software stored on non-transitory media, the software configured to execute upon the computer processor, and to—use at least one of the GPS and transmitter-receiver to determine that the handheld or wearable device is within a predetermined geographic area when a game is played using the handheld or wearable device; communicate with at least one server and a player of the gaming system to determine that the player has attained a certain age; enable the player to allocate funds using at least one of a credit card, ACH transfer, cash, cell phone carrier, or POS cash payment to be used in play of the game; present a game to the gaming player of the system for play; notify the player if the game has been won or lost; and notify the player of a disposition of allocated funds based upon whether the game has been won or lost.

In an embodiments thereof, the software is further configured to communicate with social media software using an API in order to provide a list of the one or more additional potential players from which one or more additional players may be invited to participate in play of the game; obscure an area of a display of the computer so that values may not be seen within the area, and reveal values within the obscured area when a player performs a gesture corresponding to wiping the screen within the obscured area, wherein values within the wiped area become visible, or are made visible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts one possible set of actions which may be carried out by a device and software in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts a device executing software in accordance with the disclosure, illustrating a wipe-off or scratch-off gaming application of the disclosure; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a computing environment in which software of the disclosure may be executed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and that the systems and methods described below can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present subject matter in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the concepts.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as “connected,” although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

In accordance with the disclosure, a transportable or portable computing device 100 (FIG. 2) is used to participating in gaming (gambling) applications. The computing device is advantageously a smartphone or tablet, such as an ANDROID (a trademark of Google, Inc., Mt. View, Calif.) based device, or an IPHONE or IPAD (trademarks of Apple, Inc., Cupertino, Calif.) or the like, but may also be a laptop, or any other computing device, such as a desktop computer, that is travelling with the player, for example within an RV or boat.

In many locales, certain gaming activities are regulated by the government according to the geographic location and age of the player, among other possible restrictions. Accordingly, to participate in such gaming, it may be necessary to establish a user or player's location and age to the gaming host. In some cases, the gaming host may be a governmental authority, such as a state lottery, or the gaming host may be subject to auditing and regulation by a government agency. Accordingly, the process for authenticating such age or location must be rigorous and documented.

Further in accordance with the disclosure, geolocation is used to ascertain a player's location. A global positioning system (GPS) is typically incorporated into a handheld or wearable device's hardware, and such systems may be utilized for locating the device, at least. Web mapping involves the sending of a web request with the latitude and longitude to a mapping engine to retrieve the device's physical location for a specific set of values such as address or state. Once it is determined the user is in the correct state or within the correct boundary, access is granted. This method includes internet browser geo-location. If GPS hardware is not available, a location may be determined based upon using the transmitter-receiver capabilities of the device, for example using cell phone tower triangulation, Wi-Fi network locations, and or Internet browser Geolocation features. Additionally, GPS hardware may be assisted by combining GPS with such other location determining methods, in a technique termed Assisted GPS (A-GPS). For computing devices having none of these capabilities, hardware may be incorporated into the computing device, for example using a USB port, which can reliably provide a GPS location, or other method of geolocation. Because the gaming host must ensure that the location identified by the computing device is genuine, however, it is advantageous if the geolocation is performed by hardware under the control of the Operating System (OS) of the computing device, with appropriate hardware and software safeguards in place.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an application 200 including software of the disclosure is made available to a user of the computing device, advantageously in the manner in which users of the device routinely obtain software applications, for example in an application “store” 300 or other such repository. Examples of such repositories include the iTunes store (a trademark of Apple, Inc., Cupertino, Calif.), or Google Play (a trademark of Google, Inc., Mountain View, Calif.). In accordance with such installation mechanisms, a description of the application is provided, and a fee may be collected, prior to downloading or installing the application into the computing device. In other embodiments, application 200 is downloaded from the gaming host, for example from the website of a state lottery authority; or from the website of a publisher of application 200. Although a fee may be charged for downloading application 200, it may be advantageous to provide application 200 without a fee, to encourage use thereof, where revenues are earned over time, for example through a portion of gaming revenues.

Application 200 advantageously communicates, using device 100, with one or more computer servers (not shown) associated with application 200, the servers operative, for example, to store information pertaining to the user, to collect data relating to the user and the selected games, to store information pertaining to funding and game play, to effectuate funds transfers, and to communicate information to entities associated with game play. Device 100 may communicate with application 200 using a wired or wireless network, including for example the Internet. Communication between application 200 and the one or more servers may be conducted using one or more Application Programming Interfaces (API's) forming a predetermined set of commands and responses between computing devices. The API's typically provide for real-time or near real-time communication between devices.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, application 200 is written as a native application of the device upon which it is to execute. More particularly, software may be compiled or otherwise configured to be interpreted directly by the operating system of device 100. In other embodiments, software may be provided in pseudocode or an interpreted language, to be carried out by applications executing upon device 100. Examples include Javascript (a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Santa Clara, Calif.) or HTML5, to be executed by a web browser, or Java (a trademark of Oracle America, Inc., Redwood Shores, Calif.), or ADOBE FLASH or ADOBE AIR (both trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif.), which are run under execution environments. In accordance with the disclosure, application 200 may execute upon any known or hereinafter developed computing device, executing any operating system, provided the device and operating system support the features disclosed herein. Examples include the iOS (a trademark of Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, Calif., licensed to Apple, Inc., of Cupertino, Calif.), Android (a trademark of Google, Inc., Mountain View, Calif.), and Blackberry (a trademark of Research in Motion Limited, Waterloo, Ontario) operating systems.

More particularly, HTML5 (or other HTML or similar standard known or hereinafter developed) based mobile device application in accordance with the disclosure is advantageous as compared to a native application because: one application will work, or can be relatively easily adapted to work on multiple operating systems; all users within a jurisdiction may be able to use the application, which may be a requirement of the applicable authority; storage requirements within device 100 are less; and geolocation and age verification are supported by the browser. More particularly, the user's latitude and longitude are typically available from the browser application, which in turn obtains these values from the operating system. With respect to using the camera to capture a bar code for age verification, as described herein, it may not be possible to activate the camera using a browser with certain of the operating systems, including for example iOS. Accordingly, a native code application is advantageously provided, cooperative with the browser, to facilitate this task. One example is the application PhoneGap (a trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif.).

Similarly, an HTML5 web application conforming generally to the HTML5 mobile device application promotes ease of use in switching between such applications by players, and enables players without a mobile device to participate. Advantageously, support is provided for all known or herein after developed browsers, Internet Explorer (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.), Firefox (a trademark of Mozilla Foundation, Mountain View, Calif.), Safari (a trademark of Apple, Inc., Cupertino, Calif.), and others. In addition, support is advantageously provided for former and current version of these browsers, including for example versions 7 and 8 of Internet Explorer, popular at the time of this writing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a native application may effectively be used to carry out the disclosure, although separate versions may be required in order to provide functionality for the variety of mobile devices and operating systems extant.

A host, or entity which publishes and or manages the use of application 200 by all players, may collect a fee from the funding in the form of a fee for each game played, or a percentage of all funds allocated by the player to game play. Alternatively, the host of application 200 may also be the gaming host, in which event this entity represents the “house”, and collects losing funds (and pays winnings) in addition to, or in the alternative to the foregoing fees.

It should be understood that while a sequence of events is illustrated in FIG. 1, the sequence is illustrative of one possible pattern of use and play, and that alternative sequences are possible, as would be understood within the art. Further, the screens illustrated are exemplary, and represent logical steps in accomplishing the disclosure. In an actual application, there are likely to be numerous additional screens, each possibly having a very different appearance from the screens illustrated, but collectively accomplishing similar tasks.

After installation, a symbol or icon 202 for the application 200 may appear, together with other installed applications, upon a display of the device 204. For purposes of illustration, the application 200 is named “LottoApp” in FIG. 1, although any desired name may be used. Similarly, while an example of support for a lottery style game is illustrated, any gaming application that is capable of being played on device 100 and depicted on a display 170 of a device 100 may be carried out in accordance with the disclosure, including, as examples only, gaming based upon card games, animal races, sporting events, fantasy leagues, bingo, and casino games, such as roulette, craps, and slots. In accordance with this disclosure, purchasing a lottery ticket is a game.

When an application of the disclosure is initiated or brought to the foreground, an initial welcome screen 206 is advantageously displayed, offering a player a choice of logging in 208, or performing setup (210). If Setup 210 is selected, the player may create an account, or make other selections which pertain to a configuration of the application, player preferences, or to store information pertinent to the player, for example. As part of establishing an account, a player may be required to agree to terms and conditions of the host of application 200, or a gaming host, or the jurisdiction in which the game is to be played. If a user account has been established for the player, for example using the setup screen, or alternatively, for example, using a web based application, a player may login at 208. While setting up a user account using device 100 is illustrated in screen 210, it is contemplated within the disclosure that an account is set up with a gaming host, for example using a website of a state lottery, and that a username and password established in such a setup may be input into device 100, whereby application 200 may then be furnished, by servers associated with the state lottery, with needed user information and authentication. In one embodiment, a user provides an email address during setup, and must click a link sent to their email address, in order to complete a setup or user/player registration. In another embodiment, application 200 coordinates with a social network, for example Facebook Connect (Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.), and uses the login credentials of the social networking site to authenticate a player.

More particularly, a player who uses Facebook Connect may invite “friends” to join the pool by selecting facebook friends from a list provided through the Facebook API associated with Facebook Connect. More particularly, application 200 may exploit the Facebook API, either using the player's Facebook login in order to log into application 200, or by obtaining the player's Facebook login from the player. In this manner, application 200 may be provided with the player's facebook friends through the API. Similarly, Facebook may obtain information from application 200, and may thus display information on a selected friend's “wall” pertaining to the game. In order for the selected friend to join the pool, the friend may, for example, click a link on their wall and download application 200, if the friend has not already installed application 200. The process for downloading the application and setting up an account is the same as the process for a new user; however, once a login is established, the relevant Pool game to which the friend was invited will be presented. After geolocation and age verification the friend can choose how much funds to enter into the Pool, as described for the originating player. Any Pool winnings are distributed to the players in the Pool, for example using a pro rata distribution, or any other distribution agreed to by the players. Currently, Facebook does not permit gaming within the Facebook application, and accordingly, such activities are advantageously managed by application 200, as described herein.

Alternatively, a player may invite Pool participants by providing an email address for the invitee. Application 200 may then cause an email to be sent to the invitee, advantageously containing a link that when clicked, begins a download and installation of application 200, if it's not already installed. The relevant Pool game is advantageously presented after an account and funding are established, and possibly after age and or geographical location are also established, as required within the applicable jurisdiction.

Advantages of the social Pool of the disclosure include simplified management, a clear payment arrangement, facilitated payment, and the reduction of disputes relating to any of the foregoing.

While a login screen at 208 is shown, an authentication may be accomplished, if required, by other methods, including as examples a fingerprint scanner, or a connected hardware security device. Once a player is authenticated, it may be a requirement of the jurisdiction that the player's age is established, at least once, before the player's first gaming session, and possibly at other times. In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, application 200 determines if the player's age needs to be verified (screen 212). If so, a camera, either integrated within computing device 100 or attached to it, is used in screen 212 to photograph a 2D bar code or other recognizable indicia appearing upon a players identification card. If the ID card is a U.S. driver's license, a barcode is provided upon the back of the ID containing information pertaining to the driver's birth date. Before capturing such information, the user is advantageously prompted to approve use of the information to be captured.

Software associated with application 200, or provided by the device 100 OS, or third party software, may be used to interpret the bar code or other indicia (e.g. a printed birthdate) to extract the player's birth date for the use of application 200. The player is advised by application 200 to align the barcode within guide lines displayed upon the screen, at which point the player may activate the electronic shutter by pressing a button or speaking a command, for example, or application 200 may sense that a barcode is within a designated frame by analyzing the view within the frame, and may trigger the electronic shutter automatically to capture an image of the barcode.

In an alternative embodiment, a data query algorithm, executing as part of application 200 or an associated server, is used to determine an age of the player. The algorithm prompts the player with one or more questions, in order to obtain information which may be used in a subsequent process to determine or verify a minimum age. For example, personal identifiers such as a social security number (including a portion of the social security number), address, or driver's license number may be compared against semi-public or otherwise accessible records, such as utility bills. These various identifiers, including other qualifiers such as an IP address of device 100, may be used to determine an approximation of identity, including age, as well as to generate an estimate of an approximate current location. If the data query algorithm indicates that the user falls within an acceptable range for verification, access is granted and the user can play the game or, for example, purchase a lottery ticket using application 200. If the data falls outside of the acceptable range, additional questions may be asked, or access to the game may be denied. Some of these questions may be used subsequently to verify that a current user is the same as the age authenticated user. Examples may include questions such as “What is your mother's maiden name?”, or other questions that only the player, or a small number of people, might know. If the data continues to fall outside of this range, the user is prevented from playing the game or purchasing a lottery or gaming ticket. Identifying information may be passed to a third party vendor who provides age or identification validation, typically using an API of the vendor, and advantageously using a secure protocol.

Once the birth date is established, application 200 compares the date with a minimum age for gaming within the one or more jurisdictions for which application 200 supports gaming, typically at least 18 years of age. If the age is sufficient, the player may be notified (screen 216). Application 200 may also match information provided by indicia on the card with information provided during the setup stage (210), ascertaining that the ID corresponds to the player. Other aspects of the ID may be examined by application 200 to determine that the ID is authentic and valid. Application 200 may also use one or more communication protocols of device 100 to contact an issuer of the ID to validate information obtained from the ID.

Additionally, information from the ID, including an age validation state of the player, may be stored on device 100, or in a database associated with the application for storing data pertaining to all players, for example in the cloud. In this manner, it may be determined that a player has already validated their age, or it may be determined if an ID has been misused to enable unlawful play by others.

In screen 218, a player may select a game to play, if more than one game is available. In the example shown, several games are illustrated, together with additional information pertaining to each game, including a winning payout for each. A player may select the game to be played by, for example, clicking, tapping, or otherwise submitting a gesture to device 100, indicative of the desired game. The example shown additionally provides a “Pool Play” option which may be selected, together with the desired game. Pool play, or any designation representing such an option, indicates that one or more additional players may play the game together with the player. In one embodiment, each of those other players are using application 200, and each have each undergone setup and authentication steps, as described herein. In another embodiment, the other players have authenticated in some other way, for example in person at a gaming facility or kiosk.

Once a game has been selected, application 200 determines if funds are available 220 or allocated to the player for the selected game. It should be understood, however, that a checking of funds may be undertaken by application 200 at any point, for example when setting up an account. However, it is advantageous to check for funds after selecting a game, because once a game is selected, additional information is known regarding an amount that may be necessary for play. If additional funds are needed, a manner of providing funds is selected in screen 222. Four methods are indicated, credit card or debit card, ACH automatic bank account withdrawal, a charge to the player's phone carrier account, or a submission of cash, e.g. to an authorized agent at a retail location. Other mechanisms for payment are possible, including for example services such as Paypal (a trademark of PayPal, Inc., San Jose, Calif.), wire transfer services, or a third party account. Application 200, in one embodiment, only enables funding methods which are acceptable to the gaming host, or which are permissible by the applicable legal jurisdiction, which may exclude, for example, the use of credit cards. If credit cards are permitted, the player would enter their billing address, card number, expiration date, and CVV2 number, for example. For the ACH method, it may be advantageous for application 200 or a server associated with application 200 to carry out a token small transaction to verify an account. For example, one or two small deposits of a random amount less than one dollar may be deposited into a player's account, and the player may then be required to check their account and report the amounts of the deposits using application 200. If the random values match, the registration process may be completed, and the user may thereafter begin funding their account in application 200 using the ACH account thus established.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, a player specifies an amount of funds desired to be allocated to their account, and in response, application 200 generates a barcode, advantageously encoded for security. The player then visits a designated point of sale (POS) location, for example an authorized Lotto vendor location, and displays the barcode thus generated upon display 204 of device 100. The barcode is scanned by a computer system at the POS location, and information is transmitted by and between a computer system associated with management of application 200 and the POS vendor, including identification of the player and the desired funding requested. The POS vendor is advised by the managing system regarding an amount to collect from the player, corresponding to the desired allocation, plus fees if applicable. At this point, funds are made available to the player within application 200, for play. Where the player paid with a credit card or other payment method besides cash, there may be a delay pending payment confirmation before funds are available for play.

Similarly, once a player has won a game associated with a cash award, a barcode may be generated by application 200 upon display 204 of the player's device 100, and this barcode may be read by a POS vendor. Again, communication between the POS vendor and the managing system takes place, whereupon the POS vendor may be authorized to pay the player the appropriate cash award in person.

Once a manner of payment is selected, information is entered in screen 224, as required by the authority providing the selected service, or the player may be temporarily redirected to an application of the selected service, to carry out authorization and or funds transfer to an account associated with application 200 (screen 226). Depending on the game selected, all or a portion of the funds transferred may be retained by an entity providing application 200, and some or all of the funds may be provided to an entity sponsoring or hosting the selected game. Screen 226 represents either an amount to allocate to application 200 for wagering, generally, or may additionally or alternatively represent an amount to wager on a round of the selected game, in particular. If funds are allocated to application 200, generally, an “auto-renew” option may be provided, to ensure there are funds available to application 200, as needed for selected play. Overall limits may additionally be selected, to prevent inadvertent excesses.

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, if Pool Play, or group participation, is selected in screen 218, participants may then be selected (screen 228). A choice of participants may be provided based upon a contact list of a player's, for example from a mail application or contact database accessible to the player's device 100, advantageously based upon authorization by the player. In one embodiment, the participants are selected from the player's Facebook, Google Chat (Google is a trademark of Google, Inc., Mountain View, Calif.) or other online social network account. In this manner, the player can communicate their interest in forming a multiuser game with their “friends” or social networking acquaintances, using the social network itself (screen 230). In one embodiment, advertising is related to the gaming instance. In another embodiment, the social network participates in the gaming application, for example suggesting related games, or additional players, and possibly participates in a sharing of funds allocated by the player, or is compensated by the gaming host, or the provider of application 200, or alternatively provides a portion of advertising revenues.

In one embodiment, when a player accepts an invitation to a Pool, the social network communicates the acceptance to application 200, for example to a server hosting application 200, whereby a corresponding game is initiated for the accepting participant. Application 200 may then advantageously present a notice to the accepting participant, for example by email, or a notification on device 100, that a corresponding game has been initiated in application 200 on the accepting participants device 100. Similar notices may be provided to the initiator of the Pool Play game, and or to other acceptors of the game. In one embodiment, each acceptor may make selections relating to the Pool game, for example to pick a team, number, or other designation; select one or more playing card representations; or participate in some other manner, for example by playing a game, or rolling representative dice. The collective pool of participants may play again against each other, or may collectively play on a team against another individual or pool. Results may be communicated by the social networking site in addition to or instead of by application 200.

Winnings, either in a Pool game or individual game, may be distributed using by allocating real or representative funds to the participant's fund within application 200, by mailing of a check, or by distribution to a designated bank or credit account. Similarly, losses may be deducted from the player's application 200 account, or may be deducted from a bank or credit account, for example the account established during setup. In one embodiment, winnings are distributed differently than funds are allocated to play the game.

Once all participants have been designated, or the game is otherwise ready to be played, or at any point prior to playing the game, a player's geographic location at the commencement of the game is determined (screen 232), if required by law, or the rules of the game. To carry out a location verification. (or “geolocation”), the player may be prompted to enable or permit activation of a GPS or Geolocation function for application 200 within device 100, if such is required by the operating system of the device. Alternatively other means of determining a geographic location may be carried out by device 100, as described elsewhere herein. In one embodiment, it is not possible to allocate funds to a game unless the player is within the prescribed geographic location.

Once the GPS or geolocating method is activated, and the player has agreed to share his location, the geolocation technology is used to detect the physical location of device 100. A geolocation service, for example the GOOGLE Maps API, is advantageously used to obtain geographic information pertaining to a coordinate location provided by the geolocating technology within device 100. This information, or the geolocating service, thus enables application 200 or a server to which application 200 is connected, to determine if the player is within the prescribed geographic boundaries for playing the selected game. In this manner, for example, application 200 or its associated server, and device 100, determine compliance with prescribed limits, without a requirement for approval from the gaming host, which may be a governmental or quasi-governmental agency. In another embodiment, the coordinates obtained from the geolocating hardware or software are provided to the gaming host for approval.

In instances where it is determined that a player is outside of an acceptable geographic location, it may still be possible for the player to engage in certain activities, such as providing funding, selecting games, inviting other players to participate, view winning numbers or values, receive updated jackpot or winning information, play free games, or play second chance games. Upon successful login, for example, a player might check a prize amount for a game, or look up a draw date, for example, so long as such activities are permitted by the gaming authority when the player is outside of the permissible or prescribed geographical location.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosure, a player is notified once the player has moved into the prescribed geographic region. In this manner, a user travelling to the acceptable region can stop travelling at the earliest opportunity. Such notification may be presented in the form of an SMS or other text message, an Email, a pop-up notification, or any other method enabled by device 100. In an additional embodiment, a map or instructions may be displayed upon a screen of device 100, either as requested by the player, or when the player travels within a predetermined distance from the prescribed geographic region. The map or instructions advantageously illustrate a shortest or most convenient route from outside the prescribed region into the region, wherein participation in gaming using application 200 is permitted. If the player is in a car or vehicle, the user receives driving directions, estimated travel time and distance from the state border; if the player is on foot, walking directions, estimated travel time and distance from a border or boundary of the prescribed region is provided, including for example step-by-step or turn-by-turn directions.

Once funding and an acceptable location have been established, game play may commence. Screen 234 illustrates one possible embodiment of a game, or collection of games, which may be represented and played using device 100. In the upper portion of screen 234, a slot style game is illustrated, wherein pressing a “Go” button causes a selection of three random elements. In a lower portion of a screen, a game ticket may be placed within the field of a camera associated with device 100, and a barcode or other indicia upon the ticket may be photographed and interpreted. The interpreted data may be used to initiate a game, or may be used to determine if the associated ticket is a winning ticket in a game. Of course, these are only two examples of many different games which may be played in a gaming application upon a computing device 100, it being impractical to illustrate even a small subset of the many types of games known. The disclosure further contemplates incorporation of games hereinafter developed.

Upon the conclusion of the game, the player may be notified by an SMS or other text message, or by a pop-up message, email or phone call, for example. The notification advantageously includes the game played, and the winning or losing amount, and other useful information, such as a current balance in the player's fund account. Winning or losing amounts may automatically be credited to, or debited from, the player's fund account, ACH account, or other designated account. Alternatively, cash or a prepaid debit card may be collected at a retail location associated with the gaming host.

In some jurisdictions, it may be necessary to collect winnings only at designated payment locations. In these instances, a virtual coupon may be created or made available upon device 100 by application 200. In one embodiment, the coupon may only be used or redeemed by the device 100 used to originally play the game or purchase the winning ticket. This coupon may be presented by device 100 at a payment location, for example using WiFi, BluetoothRFID, a visible barcode, or other communication method, to a device at the designated location, triggering a release of funds in the form of cash, debit card, or transfer of funds to an account of the player.

With reference to FIG. 2, in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosure, a game playable within application 200 includes an obscured screen region 240 containing obscured data 242, that is revealed when a player gestures (indicated by arrows “A”) to form a wiping or scratching motion over obscured screen region 240, gradually revealing obscured data 242 until it becomes visible, for example by changing a contrast of the wiped portions of obscured screen region 240, thereby revealing the indicia using a software algorithm of application 200. In one embodiment, random winning numbers are assigned, and winning numbers predetermined, by application 200 or associated servers, with the approval of a gaming authority, if applicable.

Accordingly, the obscured screen region metaphorically or virtually represents a “scratch-off ticket”, which is typically a paper substrate bearing printed indicia, the indicia overcoated with a removable media which may be removed with a coin or other sturdy object, so that the indicia becomes exposed, and may thereby be visualized. Such scratch games are typically sold by state lotteries, and contain a sequence of symbols, letters, or numbers which correspond to a sequence of symbols, letters, or numbers which are regularly published by the game host. Should the revealed sequence on the scratch ticket match the published sequence, the bearer of the ticket may be eligible for a prize. Similarly, once an obscured screen region has been wiped, application 200 may automatically compare the revealed indicia, or may be caused to compare the revealed indicia, for example by a gesture or button press by the player, with a published or predetermined number produced by the game host. If the comparison results in a match, or a partial match should the game rules allow this, the player may be rewarded, for example by the allocation of winnings as described elsewhere herein.

It should be understood that while a context of gaming is illustrated and described herein, involving the transfer of genuine negotiable funds, the disclosure contemplates other rewards, for example points, or published recognition, in addition to or in lieu of a financial reward. Since financial liability for the player is often required in order for gaming legislation to apply, the elimination of such financial liability may cause a waiver of age and geographic restrictions. In this event, a game may be played using application 200 by persons who would otherwise be ineligible due to age or geographic location, or for any other reason.

In accordance with the foregoing, device 100 advantageously includes a touch sensitive screen. Additionally, it may be advantageous to confer certain capabilities to application 200 by incorporating enhancements to the operating system of device 100, for example including Flash (a trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif.), or Java (a trademark of Oracle America, Inc., Redwood Shores, Calif.), particularly if the operating system lacks needed features to implement the disclosure.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosure, a user may enter symbols, letters, or numbers corresponding to a winning or losing value in a gaming application, including a real scratch-off ticket, or the virtual scratch-off ticket of application 200. In one embodiment, application 200 captures an image of the real ticket, and analyzes it as described herein with respect to scanning an ID, to extract the winning or losing indicia. In the case of a virtual scratch-off ticket in accordance with the disclosure, application 200 already has the winning or losing values. Thus, a player may enter such values in follow on game, or second chance game, possibly including the award of a prize for a match to a predetermined value.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, values from a winning or losing real or virtual game are entered as part of a game under application 200, wherein the values may unlock one or more doors in a virtual facility, for example a house. Within those doors may be prizes, information, or a penalty. Alternatively, within those doors may be other games. In one embodiment, a door leads to an area containing a pool (e.g. billiards type) table with a number of balls bearing hidden indicia. A user may then select a number of balls to reveal the hidden values on the balls, the selected values being used to generate a new number, which number may then be used in a subsequent game. Alternatively, values generated in another game may be used to select balls, and a new number may then be generated from this group of selected balls. The number of balls selected may advantageously correspond to the number of digits of a popular game supported within application 200. The values derived from play in accordance with this or other embodiments of the disclosure may be used to select or specify lottery tickets in a state lottery, for example. In one embodiment, application 200 includes software created, or virtual representations of some or all of the real world games offered by a state lottery. Funding thus corresponds to the price of the real ticket represented by the virtual ticket, plus a fee if applicable. Advantageously, an email may be sent to the player illustrating a representation of a real world ticket that the virtual ticket represents, together with a transaction receipt, and or barcode.

FIG. 3 illustrates the system architecture for a computer system 100 such as a server, work station or other processor on which the disclosure may be implemented. The exemplary computer system of FIG. 3 is for descriptive purposes only. Although the description may refer to terms commonly used in describing particular computer systems, the description and concepts equally apply to other systems, including systems having architectures dissimilar to FIG. 3.

Computer system 100 includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) 105, or server, which may be implemented with a conventional microprocessor, a random access memory (RAM) 110 for temporary storage of information, and a read only memory (ROM) 115 for permanent storage of information. A memory controller 120 is provided for controlling RAM 110.

A bus 130 interconnects the components of computer system 100. A bus controller 125 is provided for controlling bus 130. An interrupt controller 135 is used for receiving and processing various interrupt signals from the system components.

Mass storage may be provided by diskette 142, CD or DVD ROM 147, flash or rotating hard disk drive 152. Data and software, including software 400 of the disclosure, may be exchanged with computer system 100 via removable media such as diskette 142 and CD ROM 147. Diskette 142 is insertable into diskette drive 141 which is, in turn, connected to bus 30 by a controller 140. Similarly, CD ROM 147 is insertable into CD ROM drive 146 which is, in turn, connected to bus 130 by controller 145. Hard disk 152 is part of a fixed disk drive 151 which is connected to bus 130 by controller 150. It should be understood that other storage, peripheral, and computer processing means may be developed in the future, which may advantageously be used with the disclosure.

User input to computer system 100 may be provided by a number of devices. For example, a keyboard 156 and mouse 157 are connected to bus 130 by controller 155. An audio transducer 196, which may act as both a microphone and a speaker, is connected to bus 130 by audio controller 197, as illustrated. It will be obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art that other input devices, such as a pen and/or tablet, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), mobile/cellular phone and other devices, may be connected to bus 130 and an appropriate controller and software, as required. DMA controller 160 is provided for performing direct memory access to RAM 110. A visual display is generated by video controller 165 which controls video display 170. Computer system 100 also includes a communications adapter 190 which allows the system to be interconnected to a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), schematically illustrated by bus 191 and network 195.

Operation of computer system 100 is generally controlled and coordinated by operating system software, such as a Linux system, or a Windows system, commercially available from Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash. The operating system controls allocation of system resources and performs tasks such as processing scheduling, memory management, networking, and I/O services, among other things. In particular, an operating system resident in system memory and running on CPU 105 coordinates the operation of the other elements of computer system 100. The present disclosure may be implemented with any number of commercially available operating systems.

One or more applications, such as an HTML page server, or a commercially available communication application, may execute under the control of the operating system, operable to convey information to a user.

All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. There are many different features to the present invention and it is contemplated that these features may be used together or separately. Thus, the invention should not be limited to any particular combination of features or to a particular application of the invention. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention might occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer gaming system, comprising: a computer connected to software stored on non-transitory media, the software configured to— use at least one of a GPS and transmitter-receiver of the computing device to determine that the computer is within a predetermined geographic boundary when a game is played using the gaming system; capture an image of an ID of the gaming player, so that the software of the computer, or software of a computer to which the computer is connected, may interpret the image captured to obtain age information; allocate funds to be used in play of the game; present a game to a gaming player of the system; notify the player if the game has been won or lost; and notify the player of a disposition of allocated funds based upon whether the game has been won or lost.
 2. The system of claim 1, the software further configured to: analyze a bar code within the captured image to determine an age associated with the ID.
 3. The system of claim 1, the software further configured to: present a selection of games from which a player using the gaming system may select.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one computer server connectable to communicate with the computer, to share information pertaining to the game played and the game player.
 5. The system of claim 1, the software further configured to: enable the selection by the game player of one or more additional potential players who may be invited to participate in play of the game.
 6. The system of claim 5, the software further configured to: communicate with social media software using an API in order to provide a list of the one or more additional potential players.
 7. The system of claim 1, the software further configured to: receive information pertaining to values associated with a gaming game that has been played in the real world, or in a virtual world using a computer; and use the received information in play of a game of the gaming system.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein play of a game of the gaming system includes using the values as an entry in play of a game of the gaming system.
 9. The system of claim 1, the software further configured to: obscure an area of a display of the computer so that values may not be seen within the area; and reveal values within the obscured area when a player performs a gesture corresponding to wiping the screen within the obscured area, wherein values within the wiped area become visible, or are made visible.
 10. The system of claim 10, the software further configured to: use the revealed values in a subsequent game of the gaming system.
 11. The system of claim 1, the software further configured to: ask a gaming player one or more questions, the answers to which may be correlated by the software, or by software executing on at least one computer server connectable to communicate with the computer, with published information, to validate that the gaming player has reached a predetermined age.
 12. The system of claim 1, the software further configured to: use values obtained in a first game of the gaming system in a second game of the gaming system, the values operative to reveal a portion of the second game.
 13. The system of claim 1, the software further configured to: use values obtained in a first game of the gaming system in a second game of the gaming system, the values corresponding to discrete elements displayed within the second game, the discrete elements used to determine a win or loss of the second game.
 14. A computer gaming system, comprising: a handholdable device including a transmitter and receiver, a GPS, a display, and a computer processor; software stored on non-transitory media, the software configured to execute upon the computer processor, and to— use at least one of the GPS and transmitter-receiver to determine that the handholdable device is within a predetermined geographic area when a game is played using the device; determine an age of a player of the gaming system by performing at least one of methods (a) and (b), where method (a) includes capturing an image of an ID of the gaming player, so that the software of the computer, or software of a computer to which the computer is connected, may interpret the image captured to obtain age information, and method (b) includes asking a gaming player one or more questions, the answers to which are correlated by the software, or by software executing on at least one computer server connectable to communicate with the computer, with published information, to validate that the gaming player has reached a predetermined age; allocate funds to be used in play of the game; present a game to a gaming player of the system; and notify the player if the game has been won or lost.
 15. The system of claim 14, the software further configured to: if determining an age of a player uses method (a), analyze a bar code within the captured image to determine an age associated with the ID.
 16. The system of claim 14, the software further configured to: communicate with social media software using an API in order to provide a list of the one or more additional potential players from which one or more additional players may be invited to participate in play of the game.
 17. The system of claim 14, the software further configured to: obscure an area of a display of the computer so that values may not be seen within the area; and reveal values within the obscured area when a player performs a gesture corresponding to wiping the screen within the obscured area, wherein values within the wiped area become visible, or are made visible.
 18. A computer gaming system, comprising: a handholdable cellphone device including a transmitter and receiver, a GPS, a display, and a computer processor; software stored on non-transitory media, the software configured to execute upon the computer processor, and to— use at least one of the GPS and transmitter-receiver to determine that the cellphone is within a predetermined geographic area when a game is played using the cellphone; communicate with at least one server and a player of the gaming system to determine that the player has attained a certain age; enable the player to allocate funds using at least one of a credit card, ACH transfer, cash, and cell phone carrier, to be used in play of the game; present a game to the gaming player of the system for play; notify the player if the game has been won or lost; and notify the player of a disposition of allocated funds based upon whether the game has been won or lost.
 19. The system of claim 18, the software further configured to: communicate with social media software using an API in order to provide a list of the one or more additional potential players from which one or more additional players may be invited to participate in play of the game.
 20. The system of claim 18, the software further configured to: obscure an area of a display of the computer so that values may not be seen within the area; and reveal values within the obscured area when a player performs a gesture corresponding to wiping the screen within the obscured area, wherein values within the wiped area become visible, or are made visible. 